US2110437A - Feeding device for ironing machines - Google Patents

Description

arch 8, 1938. F. J. COUCH FEEDING DEVICE FOR IRONING MACHINES Filed Oct. 21, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l ATTO R N YS 'INVENTOR B FORREST J. COUC March 8, 1938. J COUCH 2,110,437

FEEDING DEVICE FOR IRONING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Filed 001;. 21, 1956 k INVENTOR FORREST J. COUCH March 8, 1938.

F: J. COUCH FEEDING DEVICE FOR IRONING MACHINES.

3 Sheets-Sheet5 H c U o c M TN J ET VS E R m F 1 w 2 O 0. d e l i F Patented Mar. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Forrest J. Couch,

The American Laundry Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Machinery Company,

Norwood, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 21,

21 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for feeding and spreading flat fabric articles prior to ironing the same.

One of the objects of my present invention is to provide a plurality of endless belts or ribbons arranged in side by side relationship extending in the same general direction to form a feeding lane for a flat article and in which belts on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the lane diverge outwardly in a novel manner so as to smooth out wrinkles in the article as it passes along the lane.

Another object of my invention'is to provide feeding lanes for presenting a plurality of workpieces simultaneously to a pair of ironing members of considerable extent. More particularly, fiatwork ironers are often provided with coacting roll and chest ironing members of considerable width and an object of the present invention is to provide means for feeding a plurality of articles simultaneously to such ironing members across the width of the machine. For instance, a sheet and a towel might be fed simultaneously or a plurality of towels, napkins or other fiat articles might be fed simultaneously to the ironing members. To this-end my invention provides a plurality of feeding lanes adapted to simultaneously feed and spread flat fabric articles and including unitary drive means for the feeding belts or ribbons and a novel arrangement of partition means between adjacent lanes to prevent the incorrect feeding of workpieces.

Another novel feature of my invention is found in the supporting and guiding means for the endless belts which move the articles along the feeding lanes.

Another object of my invention is the provision in apparatus comprising a plurality of endless belts arranged side by side and extending in the same general direction to provide a feeding lane for fiat fabric articles, of novel belt tightening means by which the tension of a plurality of belts may be ,equally varied with a minimum of equipment and effort.

Another novel feature of my invention is the provision in apparatus comprising coacting lower and upper sets of continuous feeding belts in which the lower set of belts is positively driven and the upper set of belts is frictionally driven by contact with the lower ones, of novel means for suspending the upper belts above the lower ones, novel means for varying the tension of the upper set of belts, and novel means for providing the frictional driving engagement between the two sets of belts.

1936, Serial No. 106,846 (Cl. 271-) Other novel features reside in the arrangement of stripper fingers connected with each set of belts and means for quickly adjusting the feeding device in various positions relative to the coacting ironing members to which the articles are fed.

All of the above objects and novel features will be more clearly pointed out in the specification and illustrated in the drawings including the novel structural details by which my purposes are achieved. The essential features of my invention will be summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of my novel feeding and spreading device attached to the feeding end of an ironing machine, the upper portion of the upper ribbons being broken away at the right-hand end to expose the riding plate mechanism; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same device with the upper ribbon assembly removed and with the belts of the lower ribbon assembly broken away at the left end of the device to show the belt guide plates; Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the device; Fig. 4 is a still further enlarged sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figs. 1 and 4; while Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figs. 2 and 4.

I have illustrated my feeding device as arranged to feed fiat fabric articles to an ironing machine of a well-known type comprising a base I0 on which are supported a chest II and a coacting ironing roll I2. Usually in such machines there is a plurality of such coacting ironing members which are driven by a train of gears indicated generally at 13.

On brackets Illa connected with the ironing machine base are mounted brackets 14 and I5 for supporting the feeding and spreading device. Preferably these two brackets are provided with slotted openings Ida where they are connected to the brackets Illa so as to provide a vertical adjustment, the purpose of which will be later described.

The framework for the lower belt assembly It comprises a tube I'I rigidly secured to the brackets l4 and I5 and extending entirely across the feeding. device toward the rear end thereof. Bearing brackets it supported by tube H in turn rotatably carry the shaft [9 to which are keyed the rear belt supporting pulleys 20. Another tube 2| extending entirely across the feeding device near the front end thereof is slidably mounted on brackets l4 and i5 for free movement from front to rear thereof. Tube 2| carries brackets 22 1' and. 2212 in which is rotatably mounted the .the sides of the belts li pulley .2! and tube II also carries brackets Ila and 28b which .rotatably carrythe belt supporting pulley Ii.

Means is provided for rotating shaft ll so as to positively drive the lower set of belts. This drive means comprises a sprocket 2i rigid with shaft 9 and connected by chain II with sprocket 2i which'in turn is connected by a train of gears 21 with the driving mechanism of the ironing machine. -An idler sprocket 28 supported; by. member 2i from tube l'l provides tightening means for chain 25..

Novel means is tance between tubes l1 and II front belt and the front belt supporting pulleys 22 and 23. To this end a plurality of toggles are connected between tubes l1 and II on oneside of the machine and another set of similar toggles II is provided on the other side of the machine. Each set of toggles breaks outwardly. and the knuckles ofthe left-hand set are connected by a link 30a with a threaded bar 30b, toggles II are connected by a'link lid with a threaded bar ilb. An adjusting nut 32 having right and left-hand threaded connections with bars 30b and ilb respectively controls movement of the links 300 and ila toward or away from each other coincidentally when the nut 32 is rotated. It is thus possible to simultaneouslymove toggles 3i and II either toward a more or less straightened posltionto vary the span between tubes l1 and .II and to thus equally vary the tension on the lower set of belts. Springs 33 connected between tubes l1 and 2| bias the tubes away from each other so that they follow. the togglemovement alined in exact parallelism.

The belts ii are preferably of .truncated V-sec tion as shown. It is desirable to support these belts beneath the articles fed and also to support to prevent a turning or twisting thereof due to the spreading action of the apparatus. To this end a plate 10 is provided beneath each half-lane of belts li, these plates having truncated V-grooves therein corresponding to the outer side and bottom faces of belts Ii as best shown in Figs. 5 and 6. These plates are preferably welded to supporting plates 1| therebeneath and the adjacent plate sections of two lanes are connected together by a plate 12 bolted to the plates Ill of each lane and provided with a rib 12a which forms a partition between adjacent lanes. The partitions 12a prevent thefeeding of an article partly on one lane and partly on another. To the front and rear of each plate 12 filler blocks 13 are welded. At the rear end of the plates bolts 14 secure the plates and filler blocks together. At the front end of the plates bolts 15 secure the plates and filler blocks together and at the same time secure the belt guide plate assembly to brackets Ii which are rigidly connected with tube 2i. The rear end of to provide a bearing surface.

A plurality of feeding lanes A, B and C respectively are provided in side by side arrangement so as to simultaneously feed a plurality of articles to the ironing members ii and i2. As illustrated theselanes are of equal width and identical construction and therefore one only will be described. It will. be understood, however, that the lanes need not be of the same width nor extactly the sameconstruction. For instance, one lane might be provided much wider or nilprovided for varying the disso as to vary the span between the rear belt supporting. pulley while theknuckles of 7 "2,110,487 Y v rower than the others or varying widths might trated by be provided de 7 upon the articles which it was intended to feed.

Each of the lanes then'comprisea a set of belts Ii riding in suitable'grooves in pulleys Hand at the front end of the apparatus and in pulley 2.,

as to provide for spreading of a workpiece without sufllcient stretching thereof to cause lateral wrinkles. The principle involved is best illusreference to belts- I ib, lie and lid of lane, A. "These belts'diverge outwardly toward opposite sides of the lane from the receiving toward the delivery. end .thereof. The belts lib diverge from the center line at an angle considered sumcient to smooth out the wrinkles usually encountered in the central portion of the workpiece. The belts lic farther removed from the center line diverge therefrom at a slightly greater angle than the belts lib. They are thus enabled to take care of excess material spread laterally by the belts lib and to cause an additional spreading action as to any portions of the workpiece lying between the belts lib and lic. In a similar manner the belts lid diverge from the center line at a greater angle than the belts lic, thus progressively carrying the excess material being spread laterally farther and farther toward the sides of the feedinglane. It is obvious that this progressive divergence of the belts farther and farther from the center line of the lane maybe continued as far toward the sides thereof as desired. Intact the entire lane might be constructed in this manner. However, I find that when a certain point is reached the belts lie may thereafter be substantially parallel to the outermost belts of the series lib, lic, lid. Preferably but not necessarily one or more belts are provided adjacent the longitudinal center line of the lane substantially parallel thereto. To this end I have provided the two belts lia parallel to the center line of the lane and on opposite sides thereof the central portion of the'fabric while the belts to either side thereof provide the spreading action.

The upper set of belts 34 is adapted to ride upon the belts ii in frictional contact therewith or apluralityoflanuof with an article carried thereby so that the upper feeding apparatus and above it. For each of the stantially above the feeding lanes there is provided a bracket ii carried by the channel 31 and this bracket in turn pivotally supports a bracket 39,- the position of which is adjustable by means of set screw engaging a portion 38a of bracket 88. The opposite end of bracket 3! supports a hook I which engages a pin 42 on a bar ii extending sublongitudinal center line of the feeding lane. At its forward end bar ii supports a block 44 tatably supporting the belt pulleys 4i and 41. The rod Ii is bent as shown in Fig. 1 so as to support the pulleys belts. An adiustihg screw 48 passing through block 44 and engaging a stop member 49 fixed on bar 43 adjusts the position of bar 48 so as to simultaneously vary the tension of all of the belts 34. At the rear end of rod 43 is a block ii which which carries a rod ii for ro- 4i and" at right angles to their supports a rod 5| about which belts 34 pass at the is bent as shown to provide a belt support at right angle to the belts and the belts 34 extend rearwardly of belts l6. It will be noted that belts 34 are endless and preferably fiat as shown. For supporting the upper run of belts 34 a bar 52 is supported in brackets 53 from channel 31 and is provided with pins 52a to guide the belts.

Novel means is provided to cause the lower run of belts 34 to ride upon the belts I6 to give sufficient frictional contact therewith for the feeding and spreading operation and to prevent rolling or balling up of the article fed. In the form shown plates 54, 55 and 56 are provided for each halflane spaced from front to rear thereof. The plates are provided at their forward edges with brackets 54a, 55a and 56a, respectively. Links 51 and pins 58 pivotally connect brackets 56a and 55a. Links 59 and pin 60 pivotally connect brackets 55a and 54a. Lateral bracing is provided at 6|. Links 62 pivotally connect bracket 54a with a bracket 63 rigidly mounted on bar 43. Thus the series of plates is supported in a freely floating position upon the lower run of belts 34 with horizontal movement substantially prevented but providing a limited vertical movement of each plate independently of the other plates. This accommodates various thicknesses as fabric passes through the apparatus.

Stripper fingers are provided associated with each set of belts at the rear end thereof. Associated with the lower belts are the stripper fingers 64 which ride in grooves of pulley 20 between the belts IS. The rear end of the fingers rest upon the chest ll while the forward end of the fingers is connected in a novel manner with the frame supporting the lower belt assembly. The novel arrangement shown comprises a spring clip 65 of which one is preferably provided individual toeach finger. These clips are supported in a channel-shaped member 66 extending .transversely of the apparatus and may be pressed beneath a clip 61' so as to releasably hold each finger 64 in place. This makes the replacement of individual fingers easy.

The upper set of stripper fingers 68 are carried by the rod and preferably the fingers are mounted at various angles to the rod 5| as shown in Fig. 4 so that the free ends thereof form a line substantially parallel with the fingers 64.

It will be obvious from the manner of suspension of the upper belt supporting framework that by varying the setting of screws 40 the upper belts may be caused to ride at adjusted distances from belts l6 and the clearance between fingers 68 and 64 may be controlled.

For the purpose of controlling the relative position between the feeding and spreading device and the ironing members II and I2, notches H30, and 18b are provided in the bearing brackets i8 which support the shaft l9 at the rear end of the lower belt assembly. Either of these notches may engage one or more brackets 69 connected with chest II and the necessary movement of brackets l4 and I5 are provided by the slotted openings Ma and l5a as previously described. With the notches l8a engaged on the brackets 69 as shown' in.Fig. 4 a low feed is provided, whereas with notches l8b engaged a high feed is provided.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus of the class described comprising a frame, a plurality of positively driven endless belts on said frame extending from end to end thereof in the same general direction and having work engaging surfaces throughout their length, there being a group of said belts on each side of the longitudinal center line of said frame diverging outwardly from said center line towards the opposite sides of the frame, and a belt in each group farther from said center line diverging therefrom at a greater angle than another belt in said group nearer said center line.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising a frame, a plurality of positively driven endless belts on said frame extending from end to end thereof in the same general direction and having work engaging surfaces throughout their length, there being a group of said belts on each sideof the longitudinal center line of said frame diverging outwardly from said center line towards the opposite sides of the frame, and there being belts in each group diverging from the center line at varying angles, said angles becoming progressively larger for each belt in a series extending from the center line toward each side of the frame.

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising a frame, a plurality of positively driven endless belts on said frame extending from end to end thereof in the same general direction and having work engaging surfaces throughout their length, there being a group of said belts on each side of the longitudinal center line of said frame diverging outwardly from said center line towards the opposite sides of the frame, there being a series of belts in each group, the belts in each series progressively diverging, each at a greater angle from the center line than the belt nearer the center in the series, and belts in each group laterally outside of each series and substantially parallel to the outermost belt of the series.

4. Apparatus of the class described comprising a frame, a plurality of positively driven endless belts on said frame extending from end to end thereof in the same general direction and having work engaging surfaces throughout their length, there being at least one belt extending adjacent and substantially parallel to the longitudinal center line of said frame, there being a group of said belts on each side of said center line and diverging outwardly therefrom towards the opposite sides of said frame, and there being belts in each group diverging from the center line at varying angles, said angles becoming progressively larger for each belt in a series extending from the center toward each side of the frame.

5. Apparatus of'the class described comprising a frame, a plurality of positively driven endless belts on said frame extending side by side from end to end thereof in the same general direction and having substantially continuous work engaging surfaces throughout their length, there being a group of said belts on each side of the longitudinal center line of said frame diverging outwardly from said center line towards the opposite sides of the frame, there being a series of belts in each group, the belts in each series progressively diverging each at a greater angle from the center line than the belt nearer the center in the series, and a self-contained belt unit including endless idler belts having substantially continuous work engaging surfaces throughout their length and diverging to coact with said first named belts and held firmly thereagainst in a mannerto be driven by frict onal contact therewith, whereby the two sets of belts grip work passing therebetween to advance the work while straightening the same laterally without stretching.

9 posite sides of the frame,

unit including endless idler belts having substantially continuous work engaging surfaces 6; Apparatus ing a plurality of work-feeding lanes arranged side by side, each lane comprising a plurality of positively driven end ess belts lyingin'a common plane in two groups one on each side of the longitudinal cen er line of the lane, the belts of each "group diverging from th'e center line of the lane in the direction of drive toward the opposite sides of driving relation to the and extending the full width of the machine,

7. Apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality of work-feeding lanes arranged side by side, each lane comprising a plurality of posi- 5 tively driven endless belts lying in a common plane in two groups one on each side -of .the

longitudinal center line of the lane, the beltsflof each group diverging from the center line of the lane in the direction of drive toward theopposite sides. of the lane, a self-contained belt unit for each lane superimposed on the first named belts, each unit including endless idler belts having continuous work engaging surfaces throughout their length and diverging to correspond with the divergence of the lower belts and resting upon the latter by gravity to be driven by frictional contact therewith, and'partition means between adjacent lanes whereby to prevent a workpiece being fed along portions of two different lanes.

8. Apparatus of the class described comprising a frame, a plurality of positively driven endless belts on said frame extending side by side from end to end thereof in the same general direction and having substantiallyv continuous work engaging surfaces throughout their length, there being a group of said belts on each side of the longitudinal center line of said frame diverging outwardly from said center line towards the opa self-contained belt throughout their length and diverging, to correspond with said first named belts and held 5 firmly thereagainst in a manner to bedriven by frictional contact therewith, whereby the two sets of belts to advance the, same laterally work while straightening the without stretching, and guide means supporting said positively driven belts on the face thereof opposite the work engaging face,

saidguide means engaging the side'edges of the belts wherebyto prevent twisting of said belts during a work-feeding operation. i

9. Apparatus of the class described comprising aplurality of endless belts arranged side by side and extending in the same general direction in a manner to form'a feeding lane for a -wide article, belt supporting means including pulleys at each end of said lane, a plurality of toggles operatively connected with said belt supporting means and controlling the distance between said pulleys, and means for simultaneously straightening or breaking said toggles equally.

10. Apparatus of the class described compris- .ing a plurality of lanes arranged side: by side for simultaneously'feeding a plurality of work- .pieces, each lane comprising a plurality of end- I lessl belts extending side general direction, belt supporting pulleys at op- .posite ends of. the belts ofeach lane, rigid pulley by side in the same supportingmeans-extending across a plurality of said lanes, one adjacent each set of end pulleys,

a' plurality of toggles operatively connected with u said pulley suppo ting means andcontrolling the V i a,n'o,ssv I, 1 of the class described comprisrand in toggle the lane, and a shaft in belts of all of said lanes above the first "first named set tending in the same rest thereon by gravityto grip work passing' therebetween I tact therewith,

distance between them, and means for simultaneously moving said toggles in toggle-straightenreaking directions. r

11. In apparatus of the class described having a frame supporting a plurality of positivelydriven endless beltsarranged side by side and extending in the same general direction in a manner to form a feeding lane for a flat article, said apparatus also including a second frame frame and carrying a plurality belts adapted to rest upon the of belts to be driven by frictherewith, vertically adjustable of endless idler tional, contact means for suspending said second named frame above said first named frame.

iii. In apparatus of the class described having 7 a: frame supporting a plurality of positively driven endless belts arranged side by side and exgeneral direction in a manner to form ,a feeding lane for a fiat article, said apparatus also including a second frame above the first frame andcarrying a, plurality of endless idler belts adapted to rest upon the first named set of belts to be driven by frictional contact therewith, each of said frames having belt supporting members at the receiving and delivery ends thereof, stripper fingers on each frame extending outwardly beyond said delivery end belt supporting members, and means for adjusting the vertical distance between the delivery ends of said frames, whereby to adjust the clearance between said stripper fingers.

13. In apparatus of the class described having a frame supporting a plurality of positively driven endless belts arranged side by side and extending in the same general direction in a manner to form a feeding lane for a fiat article, said belts diverging outwardly from the longitudinal center line of said lane towardthe opposite sides thereof, said apparatus also including a second frame above the first frame and of belts and adapted to be driven by frictional contact therewith, a belt supporting member at the delivery end of said second frame extending substantially normal to the supported belts, and stripper fingers depending from said member at varying angularities in a manner to cause the free ends of said stripper fingers to lie in a line normal to the center line of said lane.

14. In apparatus of the class described having a. frame supporting a plurality of positively driven endless belts arranged side by side and extending in the same general direction in a manner to form a feeding lane for a fiat article, said spond with said first set apparatus also including a second frame above 15. In apparatus. of the class described having a frame supportinga plurality of positively driven endless belts arranged side by side and extending in the same, general direction in a manner to form afeeding lane for a fiat article, said apparatus'also'includlng a second frame above the first frame and carrying a plurality of endless idler belts adapted to rest upon the first named set of belts to be driven by frictional cona plate adapted to rest upon the carrying a plu-' rality of endless idler belts diverging to corre-- a frame supporting a plurality of positively driven endless belts arranged side by side and extending in the same general direction in a manner to form a feeding lane for a fiat article, said apparatus also including a second frame above the first frame and carrying a plurality of endless idler belts adapted to rest upon the first named set of belts to be driven by frictional includingasecondframeabovesaid contact therewith, a plurality of plates adapted to rest upon the upper face of the lower run of said idler belts, and means for mounting said plates substantially preventing horizontal movement thereof but permitting limited vertical movement thereof.

17. In apparatus pf the class described having a frame supporting a plurality of positively driven endless belts arranged side by side and extending in the same generaldirection in a manner to, form a feeding lane for a fiat article, said apparatus also including a second frame above the first frame and carrying a plurality of endless idler belts adapted to rest upon the first named set of belts to be driven by frictional contact therewith, a plurality of plates adapted to rest upon the upper face of the lower run of said idler belts in line from the receiving end toward the delivery end of said belts, and means for mounting said plates substantially prevent ing horizontal movement thereof while providingfor limited vertical movement of one plate substantially independent of vertical movement of another plate.

18. In apparatus of the class described for feeding articles between ironing members of an ironing machine and having a frame supporting a plurality of positively driven endless belts arranged side by side and extending in the same general direction in a manner to form a feeding lane for a fiat fabric article, said apparatus also first frame and carrying a plurality of endless idler belts adapted to rest upon thefirst named set of belts to be driven by frictional contact therewith, ad

justable support means on said ironing machine forsupporting both of said frames, and positioning members on said named frame for holding said frames ineither of a plurality of positions relative to said ironing members for the presentation of articles thereto. 1

19. In apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality of endless belts for feeding fiat fabric articles to an ironing machine and having a belt supporting pulley at the machine end of said belts, a stripper finger extending beyond said pulley on the delivery side thereof, and clip means for securing said stripper finger to said apparatus.

20. In apparatus of the class described comprising a frame supporting a plurality of endless belts for feeding fiat fabric articles to an ironing machine and having belt supporting pulley means at the machine end of said belts, stripper fingers extending across said pulley means, a spring clip on each finger on the end thereof toward the receiving end of said belts, and means on said frame for removably holding said clips.

21. Apparatus of the class described comprising a frame, a plurality of positively driven endless belts on said frame extending from end to end thereof in the same general direction and; having work engaging surfaces throughout their length, there being two groups of said belts each symmetrically arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of said frame and diverging outwardly from said center line progressively along their length, one of said groups having pairs of belts diverging at progressively greater angles, said angles having a common apex, and the other of said groups having pairs of belts diverging at the same angle, the apexes of the angles of saidlast named group of belts lying progressively farther from a given point. I

J. COUCH.

machine and said first

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